In a lukewarm defense of TXDOT, to some extent I think the timing of the mowing is dictated by fire hazard. If the vegetation gets too dry, even the mowers are a risk for setting a fire. Year before last a truck running on a bare rim set four different fires in a 3 mile stretch going into town. They were quickly contained, but one landowner had wooden fence posts and lost 4-5 of them. Dry vegetation is fuel for a fire and the taller it is, the more fuel. I have a friend who has train rails going through his land. Man, I never realized how often a train starts up fires with sparks. I guess horses and buggies are the answer
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